Landrum's Red Horse Inn earns top honor for catering to couples

The Red Horse Inn in Landrum has been chosen as one of the Top 10 romantic getaways in the nation by the Web site iLoveInns.com.

By JESSICA L. DE VAULT jessica.devault@shj.com

Mary Wolters said she was ecstatic to hear that her secluded bed and breakfast has won yet another award.

The Red Horse Inn has been chosen as one of the top spots in the nation by the Web site iLoveInns.com.

Being ranked in the top 10, was like adding "another feather in our cap. It makes us feel much more authenticated," Wolters said. "It's good to be (ranked so high) in the country and knowing that we're the only ones (to win) in the Southeast."

Deborah Sakach, president of iLoveInns.com and its parent company, American Historic Inns, said the Web site's staff goes through a tedious process to choose the best locations.

"It's really hard ... we've been in business doing this for, like, 27 years. We've written bed and breakfast books every year. In the course of writing the book and keeping the Web site updated, we get, like, 19,000 inns on our Web site (database)," Sakach said. "So our staff, all year long, keeps an alert on who they think is the top 10 romantic (inns).

"In October, we start refining the list, narrowing it down to 50 and keep narrowing it down. We have to keep whittling away until our list gets to 10," Sakach said.

For the Web site's staff, the Red Horse Inn stood out from the rest, Sakach said.

"The Red Horse Inn is just creative and fresh. It's different than other inns, because they've created their own definition of romantic, and their property lends itself to that. They really worked with the elements they had and made something unique."

The Top 10 Romantic Destinations award will be the Red Horse's third national honor.

The business won "Best Honeymoon or Anniversary Getaway" from Inn Traveler and was named one of the "Top 25 Best Undiscovered Incredibly Romantic Inns," by BedAndBreakfast.com.

Wolters and her husband, Roger Wolters, opened the Inn in 1995.

It is located in a bucolic setting in horse country, just minutes from Landrum, Tryon, N.C., and Campobello. Although several bed and breakfasts are sprinkled throughout that area, Wolters said she believes the Red Horse's seclusion separates it from the rest.

"It's probably the beauty, serenity and the quiet" that brought the coveted award, she said. "For example, our guests showed us very early that they liked to have breakfast in their room. And we cater to their needs; their needs for 'alone-ness.' "

"A lot of bed and breakfasts are located in a city or town, but not in the quiet location and solitude that this location provides. Few of them have cottages. What we provide is a sense of privacy and luxury," she said.

Sitting on 200 acres of equestrian fields and pastures, the Inn has six luxury rooms and six separate cottages scattered throughout the property. Each of the quarters offers a king-size or a queen-size bed, with a fireplace, private bathrooms - many with garden or whirlpool tubs - and a microwave and mini-fridge.

The cottages offer these items as well, but many have outdoor spas with a hot tub on the back patio and full kitchens.

Each of the rooms and cottages offers unique decor, something Wolters is exceedingly proud of because she and her husband have done most of the decorating and handiwork.

"Every room has a different feel to it," she said.

Over the years, this bed and breakfast has expanded its offerings to corporate clients as well as to the honeymooners and romance-seeking lovebirds.

Now the Red Horse Inn can host business conferences, Wolters said.

"A lot of the (patrons) were corporate clients who were always looking for upper management meetings," she said. "That was the impetus to adding the dining room and conference areas. It's delightful to have our conferences."

Wolter's son, Christian Wolters, said winning this award was only the beginning for his family's accomplishments.

"The next award will be the 'Ultimate Bed and Breakfast,' " he joked. "But that will be next year. We've got to stagger it out a bit."

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